Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone,
I just realized that my imitators may not be getting enough calcium because when i feed i dust with calcium, but by the time the frogs get some, all the calcium is gone from the flies. I suspect this is because the frogs only eat a little every so often, i know they eat because they are staying plump. What do you think i should do? Also, how old should my frogs be before i move them into the 25 gallon high i have for them.
thanks
-----
Nate
1.1 alanis tincs
0.0.2 imitators
0.0.2 Azureus

I try not to mist my imitators for a few hours after i feed them so i dont wash any dust off the flies, they eat a few before the next misting so they get some calcium.
-----
1.2 Leucomelas
1.1 Green and Bronze Auratus
1.1 Imitators
0.0.1 Vents (more soon)
0.0.4 Nicaraguan Green and Black Auratus
0.0.3 Powder Blue Tincs (hopefully 9/28/03)

Nate,
I have wondered that myself but I think there is enough on the flies when they eat them.I dust mine everyday and my male is real shy but he has not had any problems and is healthy.They are this october about 15 months old so I wouldn't worry too much about the it.................Mark W.

Nate, keep in mind that there are microscopic particles of the calcium/vitamins from the dusting left behind which may not be very visible. The frogs cosume massive ammounts of prey items that contain this 'invisible residue' which builds up during feeding. Not enough is most always better than too much. Clacium is pretty hard on the digestive system as well so it's better to keep it to a bare minimum. Just my $0.02 worth.

-Bill J.
-----

Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

I wondered the same thing. And since they seem to eat a little at a time, plus some of the frogs are more agressive eaters then the others-I switched to feeding differently every other day. One day I might feed one great big meal 1x/day, and the 2nd day I'll split the meal in 2 or even 3 times/day after a misting. The big meal draws out the shy more readily, but the small meal gives them more chances/turns to catch up. Dunno if its any better, but so far since may its been OK. I have noticed more plumpness in the shyer ones since then, though. I Do the big meal after a 24 hour period of no food especially when i dusted with a parasite treatment. Still testing this out. Let you know more of what I observe.

Regards-Maggie